We may generally observe a pretty nice
Proportion between the Strength of Reason and Passion;
the greatest Genius’s have commonly the strongest
Affections, as on the other hand, the weaker Understandings
have generally the weaker Passions; and ’tis
fit the Fury of the Coursers should not be too great
for the Strength of the Charioteer. Young Men
whose Passions are not a little unruly, give small
Hopes of their ever being considerable; the Fire
of Youth will of course abate, and is a Fault, if
it be a Fault, that mends every Day; but surely unless
a Man has Fire in Youth, he can hardly have Warmth
in Old Age. We must therefore be very cautious,
lest while we think to regulate the Passions, we
should quite extinguish them, which is putting out
the Light of the Soul: for to be without Passion,
or to be hurried away with it, makes a Man equally
blind. The extraordinary Severity used in most
of our Schools has this fatal Effect, it breaks the
Spring of the Mind, and most certainly destroys more
good Genius’s than it can possibly improve.
And surely ’tis a mighty Mistake that the
Passions should be so intirely subdued; for little
Irregularities are sometimes not only to be borne
with, but to be cultivated too, since they are frequently
attended with the greatest Perfections. All great
Genius’s have Faults mixed with their Virtues,
and resemble the flaming Bush which has Thorns amongst
Lights.

Since, therefore the Passions are the
Principles of human Actions, we must endeavour to
manage them so as to retain their Vigour, yet keep
them under strict Command; we must govern them rather
like free Subjects than Slaves, lest while we intend
to make them obedient, they become abject, and unfit
for those great Purposes to which they were designed.
For my Part I must confess, I could never have any
Regard to that Sect of Philosophers, who so much
insisted upon an absolute Indifference and Vacancy
from all Passion; for it seems to me a Thing very
inconsistent for a Man to divest himself of Humanity,
in order to acquire Tranquility of Mind, and to
eradicate the very Principles of Action, because
its possible they may produce ill Effects.

I am, SIR,

Your Affectionate Admirer,

T. B.

Z.

[Footnote 1: The Prince, ch. xlv, at close.]

* * * *
*

No. 409. Thursday, June 19, 1712.
Addison.

‘Musaeo contingere cuncta lepore.’

Lucr.

Gratian very often recommends the Fine Taste, [1]
as the utmost Perfection of an accomplished Man.
As this Word arises very often in Conversation, I
shall endeavour to give some Account of it, and to
lay down Rules how we may know whether we are possessed
of it, and how we may acquire that fine Taste of Writing,
which is so much talked of among the Polite World.